Coating-machine.



' G. M. GREEN.

COATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 15, 1911.

1 1 1 5,426., Patented! Oct. 27, 19M. I 12 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Ja -W I G. M. GREEN.

COATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 11193.15, 1911.

1 1 1 5,4260 Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

12 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

J10. C3. fgajutl I if 7% U. M. GREEN.

COATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.15, 1911.

Patented Got. 27, 1914.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

G. M. GREEN.

COATING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.15,1911.

Patented 0013. 27, 1914.

12 $HEETSSHEET 4.

C. M. GREEN.

GOATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.15, 1911.

1, 1 1 5,426.. Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

12 MEETS-SHEET 5.

(J. M. GREEN.

COATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 15, 1911.

Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

| \/E TEIP: gLimlu JM althd-Jvo.

(1., M. GREEN.

BOATING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION EILED APB..15, 1911.

Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

12 $HEETSSHEET 7.

WITHEEE E E:

C. M. GREEN.

COATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.1,,1911.

- m mU Patented 0011. 27, 1914.

WIT-[JESSE E .a Mal G. M. GREEN.

COATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.15, 1911.

1 1 15,4260 Patented 061. 27, 1914.

, y HEEN,

\X/rr EEEEE: uggw d C. M. GREEN.

COATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 15, 1911.

L115A26a \X/ITHEEEEE G. M. GREEN.

COATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.15, 1911.

Patented Oct. 27, 19142.

12 SHBETSSHEET 11.

LAW W/ C. M. GREEN.

COATING MACHINE. v APPLICATION FILED APR.15, 1911.

1, 1 1 5,4%& Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

12 SHEET S-SHEET 12.

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CHARLES M. GREEN, OF MABBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE WALTER M. LOWNEY COMEANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- Specification of Letters Patent.

COATING-MACHINE.

Patented @ct. 27, 19141.

Application filed April 15, 1911. Serial No. 621,365.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES M. GREEN, of Marblehead, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, a citizen of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in CoatingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates primarily to the coating of centers with chocolate or other substances .in the manufacture of coated candy, nuts, etc.

In practice the better grades of coated centers are made of a material other than the coatin molded into the desired shape. after which these centers are dipped one by one by hand into a bath of the chocolate or other substance, the chocolate which adheres to the center covering it and forming a more or less thick coating over it. Theprocess has been carried on by machinery, but the best grades have always been covered by hand because of a prejudice against machine-made goods. The hand-made goods have always been recognized by their irreg ularity of surface due to hand methods and by the finishing line of chocolate or other substance over the tops where the hand leaves its last mark on the piece. This mark, sometimes called the thumb mark, because usually made by the thumb, when made by hand is irregular and not uniform in all the pieces.

it is much cheaper to coat centers by machinery, but various difliculties have been encountered in the process and the fact that heretofore this thumb mark if put on by machine was always regular so that every piece looked like every other piece, made it impossible to sell machine-made goods alongside of hand-made goods although the materials from which they were made were identical.

My invention comprises a machine in which a large number of centers are coated I at once and the finishing mark is so applied that the chance of any two finished pieces being exactly alike is very slight.

My invention then consists in means for handling and dipping the centers, placing them under the marking pump and cleaning the handling mechanism automatically, as well as feeding the centers to the handling mechanism and removing the finished procluct. While all the features are shown combined in one machine, it is evident that each may be used under a dilferent environment for the purpose for which it is devised.

' My invention will be understood by reference to the drawings in which its various parts are constructed and combined in the bestform now-known to me.

Figure l is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view taken from the opposite side thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan, and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on line 41 of Fig. 3. Fig. 4% is a detail showing the tray-delivering mechanism, and Fig. 4: is aplan of the latch used in this and other parts of themachine. Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section on line 55 ofFig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section on line 66 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7

is a horizontal section on line 7-7 of Fig.

section on line 1111 of Fig. 10. Fig. 12

is a top view partly in section showing the track switches. Fig. 13' is a vertical section on line 1313 'of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a top view of the center-grippers, and Fig. 15 is a vertical section thereof.

While certain of the parts of my machine may be differently arranged or assembled under other conditions and surroundings, as

assembled as shown they perform the following functions: The machine as a whole feeds a tray carrying centers to be covered with chocolate or other substance to a carriage provided with automatic center grippers, each-set of which drops over, grips and liftsa center from the tray. The carriage or other suitable mechanism then rises, removes the empty tray, when another full tray comes into position ready for its next gripping operation and moves over the coating substance tank and down to immerse the centers in the coating, the grippers when advisable to do so being rotated-while in the coating so that each center will be properly covered. The carriage is then lifted from the tank and continues its travel over a steam or hot Water bath, first pushing a cover over it toprotect the coated centers from the moisture, then depositing the coat-.

ed centers on a tray. Then the carriage starts back and the first backward movement pulls the filled tray 'under the marking device. The marking device then deposits a. jet of chocolate or other substance on to of each piece by means of a pump, immediately after which the tray is pulle by the continued backward movement of the carriage, into a cooling room or elsewhere, and an empty tray replaces it ready for the next set of pieces. During the further backward movement of the carriage the cover of the cleaning tank is pushed over the tank holding the chocolate or other coating substance, the center-grippers are dipped into and rotated in the steam or hot water bath so as to remove any of the coating substance which may have adhered to them and, passing above the coating tank, the carriage reaches its first positlon over the feeding trays, when the. cycle of operation begins again. I

Having thus briefly described the operation of my invention as its organization is shown in the drawings, I will now describe the drawings in detail.

A is a frame braced by beams A and forming a support for the various parts. On this frame A are mounted sections A A at each end of the machinev and extending a short 7 distance alongv its sides, the side portions of these sections being con nected on each side of themachine by recessed stationary side rails A and A These stationary side rails each have two depressions, the depressions in each rail A being separated by a part A" the top level of which on each rail is substantially the height of that of the side portions of A and A and the extremities of A A", and the depressions in side rail A being separated by a similar part A The depressions are approached at each end by inclines A, A A and A as will be pointed out below. Mounted on bearing supports 6 on the frame A isthe worm shaft B carrying a .cam B having a return spiral groove 12 therein. One end of this worm shaft B carries fast and loose pulleys B, B and the other end carries a sprocket wheel B connected by a chain 6 to the sprocket B, on the shaft B also supported in the parts 6. I

. The carriage is suspended from a truck D and comprises a platform .0 the ends of which slide in suitable ways or openings A in the frame. One end has a projection C which for convenience is angular (see Fig. 5) and carries the cam pin 6 which runs in the cam groove 6 in the m B. By the rotation of the cam the cazi 'iage is carried from one end to the other of the machine and then by reasdn of the return portion of the worm groove is reversed in its movement and carried back again-to its starting point.

D is the truck comprising a cross piece having rollers d at 'each end running on rails mounted on the sides of the frame as below described. From this truck D de F, F are switch rails pivotally mounted in the frame in such manner and with such switching mechanism as will allow the carrier to dip the centers into the coating substance and then hold the fingers of the center-grippers out of the steam bath while moving in one direction and after the car riage has deposited the centers, will give the fingers on its return movement the bath which is desirable to remove from them any coating substance which may adhere to them, and then raise the carrier up to allow it to pass over the tank holding the chocolate or other coating substance.

There are two pairs of switch rails, one switch rail of each pair being on each side of the frame and the rails of each pair are alike, and are adjusted in the same manner, so that the description of those on one side will answer equally well for those on the other side. These switch rails F, F are pivoted between the stationary side rails A A, the switch rails F being pivoted by the pivot a to the part A of the side rail A and-the switch rails F being pivoted by the pivot a to the part A of the side rail A*..v One pair of rails F extends forward toward the feeding end of the machine and the other pair F extends rearward toward the finishing end of the machine. Each rail F has a tail pin f extending from its short end and each rail F a similar tail pin f extending from its short end. Each rail F has also a lifting pin f extending laterally from its long end just above and within reach of the tail pin f of the adjacent rail F each rail F having a corresponding lifting pin f extending laterally from its long end just above and within reach of the tail pin f. As a result the depressionof the long ends of either rail will lift the long end of the other rail.

In addition to the parts already named, the platform O has attached to it latch bars G which are grooved as at g and ride horizontally with the platform O within the sides of the frame. The upper surface of each latch bar serves to hold up either the forward or rearwardly-projecting rails according to the direction in which the carriage is moving as will now be described.-

The switch rails F have holding pins 1 and the switch rails F have holding pins f". The ends of these'pins project into the path 'of the latch bars G and would engage them except for the groove g in which they lie when the rails are in depressed position.

m lease The switch rail F has a slot f to allow the pin f to extend through it to reach the top of the latch bar. Each latch bar has two latches g g each of which is pivoted as at g g thereto and forms a part of the top of the groove. Each groove is conveniently shaped just below its latches to allow the ins f to rise freel on the lifting of. p a y these rails F, F from a depressed to a horizontal position. These latches g 9 are so placed with relation to the holding pins f F, that when one pair of rails F or E is lifted as above described the holding pins f or f of that rail will lift the corresponding latches g or 9 (see Fig. 8), rising to the level of the upper surface 'of the latch bars and allowing the latches to close under them. When the latches fall after the holding pins have passed up by them, the holding pins f or f will thereafter rest on the upper surface of the latch bars holding up said rails as the latch bars slide under them so that the truck will move on the higher level until it is delivered to the stationary rails at the end of the machine, and the latch bars have passed from under the holding pins, at which time the rail will drop, this taking place near the end of the movement of the carriage in either direction. Tnclines A A, A and A" are provided to change the level of-movement of the truck D as will now be described.

The path of the truck D supporting the carriage from the feeding to the delivery end of the machine is first along the side sections of A onto the stationary side rails A A then down the incline A onto the depression in the rails A A then onto the switch rails F, by which, as above described, the switch rails E are lifted to a horizontal position and thereafter are held in that position by means of the holding pins f which come up throu h the latches g and rest on the surface 0 the latch bars G which slide under them. The truck then runs along the incline A, along A A and the switch rail F to the further end of rails A A and the side section of A the switch rails F being then released by the latch bars G. On its return movement the truck runs from the side sections of A and the ends of rails A A down the incline A. onto the depression in rails A A and then onto the switch rails F thus lifting the switch rails F, then up switch rails F and the incline A,

. over A, along the switch rails E, which are D, the platform C and the other parts above described, but also the carrier E carrying the center-grippers by means of which the centers are gripped, lifted from the tray, coated and deposited on the receiving tray; As stated above, the carrier E is suspended from the truck D by means of hangers d the lower ends of which are attached to the carrier. The carrier is pierced by a number of holes orvbearings each of which carries a center-gripper preferably of the kind now to be described and adapted to be turned in said bearings.

Each center-gripper as shown comprises a sleeve 6 having a gear 6 at its upper end and from its lower end depend a number of finger bearings e to each of which is pivoted at e a finger 6 These fingers are preferably made of stiff wire or sheet metal, the lower end of each finger being bent inwardly and more or less sharpened as at c or other wise" shaped to cooperate with the other fingers in gripping the center. These fingers are operated in the following manner: Within the sleeve e is a plunger 6 having a head 0 7 Between the lower rim of these heads and the upper end of the sleeve lies a spring 6 the tendency of which is to hold the plunger in a raised position. The lower end of the plunger is provided with a conical cavity 6 closed at its lower end by a perforated plate 6 through each perforation e of which passes the upper end of one of the fingers e", thisconstruction being such that upon the depression of the plunger the upper end of the fingers lying as they do within the cavity e will be drawn together, thus separating the lower ends of the fingers, and upon the release of the plunger the upper end of the fingers will be positively forced apart so that the lower ends of the fingers will approach and grip the centers which they will surround. The carrier E may be provided with any convenient number of these center-grippers, the carrier shown in the drawings having seventy such grippers, the machine shown, being adapted to coat seventy centers at a time.

- To operate the plungers, which it will be noticed are arranged ten in a line across the carrier, there are provided seven cam rods H which extend across the carrier, the number being determined in the machine shown by the number of cross rows of grippers which the carrier contains. The cam rods ar l p h in. a direction across the carrier they will depress all the plungers and scend toward the centers with the fingers open. The wedge surfaces then pass off the plungers and release them so that each set of fingers will grip its center and hold it tightly during the coating operation; This movement of the cam rods 1s accomplished as follows: The cam rods are restrained in their movements across the carrier by springs 72., one end 'of each spring being attached to a cam rod as at k and the other end to the carrier as at h. The cam rods must be given a slight lateral movement in order to carry the abrupt ends of the wedges which have passed the plunger heads out of registry with those heads so that the may be returned to their original position y the springs 11 For this pur ose the carrier E has slotted end pieces hf, one slot in each end piece being provided for each cam rod. One surface it of each slot in the end piece it is shaped to cooperate with the end surface H of its cam rod H. Two slide rods k are also provided, each sliding in bearings k in the carrier E. Each is bent at one end and enlarged to form an abutment h be rod H, the walls of the slot being adaptedto engage the slide rod and move it as occasion may require. Normally, however, the slide rods are'in the position shown in Fig. 7 engaging the cam rods by means of the springs 72.. Thus the cam rods H are controlled by the springs h and it. They are moved longitudinally by means of a stationary cam piece H attached to one side of the frame and having an incline H so that as the'carrier moves to the right (see Fig. 7

to receive its load the end of each cam rod in turn will ride against the incline H on the cam piece H and the cam rod will be gradually pushed across the carrier, thus causing its wedge-shaped surfaces each to engage its own plunger e, deg'ess it and thus cause the opening of the gers to receive the centers, the fingers being fully open when the end of the cam rod en ages the surface of H". During a portion 0 this action the carrier is dropping so that the fingers will reacharound the centers. The.

lower edge of the cam piece H has a slight inward inclination H which at the end of thedownward movement of the carrier will' When the cam rods are freed-the springs 72.

and It drag the cam rods back toward their original position the wedge pieces passing one side of the plungers, and when they are disengaged from the cam piece H they at once resume their original position. The release-of the plungers takes Place when the fingers are surrounding the centers and, as above stated, they immediately grip the centers and are ready to lift them as the carrier lifts, and convey them to the chocolate tank.

The vertical movement or dropping and raising of the carrier to grip the centers at the start is accomplished as follows: The side portions of the end section A. are cut away at a and within each cut is a forked block. a held in a forward position by a spring a centered by a rod a attached thereto, the frame being recessed to allow the rear end of the rod to retract as required. The block when in its forward position leaves an opening in the side frames, of sufiicient size and depth to allow the truck rollersd to fall into it and thus drop the carrier E so that the fingers e may grip the centers. The worm B then changes the direction of movement of the carriage, and to lift the carrier and the rollers d out of the cut a a stationary inclined surface a is provided between the forks of the block a up which the rollers d are dragged and in their act of moving they push back the block (1 against the force of the spring a riding up the inclines onto the top of the side portion of A. At the other end of the machine similar elevating mechanism will be found which operates in the same way to change the level'of the 100 carrier as will be described below.

J .is the tank holding the chocolate or other coating substance which may be filled and kept at the proper temperature in any desirableway. I shall hereinafter call it the 105 coating tank. It is suitably supported in the frame and beyond it is a bath K-suitably supplied with steam or hot water for the urpose of cleansing the fingers after they ave released the coated centers. I pre- 11o fer to provide a cover K which is used to .cover these tanks alternately, being, moved from one to the other preferably by the advancing carriage. For this purpose the cover K has standards 70, k adapted to engage, springs arms which project from the front and rear of the carriage. As shown there are four of'these standards two is near \one end of the cover and two k near the other end of the cover and there are four arms carried by thecarriage. Each arm as shown comprises a part k projecting from the platform 0 and having a leaf spring k extending from it and carrying a. lug k at its end. As the carriage advances the lugs k on the advancing arms strike the standards k and push the cover K until it strikes the stop K near the further-end of the machine, thus exposing the'tank in advance of the travel of the carriage over it and cov- 1:0

meshes ering the steam bath. The springs allow the lugs to spring over the standards when the cover has reached the stop without hindering the forward movement of the carriage. On its return movement the lugs 7r; on what were the rear arms and are now the advancing arms in like manner engage the standards 10 and push the cover K over the coating tank, thus exposing the bath, the cover eventually engaging the wall K which acts as a stop as before.

The truck in its movement over the side frames runs down the inclines A onto depressions in the side rails A A thus bringing the grippers to such level that the centers will be immersed in the coating substance in the tank. To insure their being thoroughly coated the gears e on the centergrippers in each cross line are in mesh and in mesh with one gear in each line is a rack E of considerable length. Upon the side frames are stops E located to engage one end of the rack when the centers are being covered and hold it from moving, so that the center-gripper gears, engaged by it.,,being carried by the moving carriage will be turned. The racks are disengaged from the stops by the lifting of the carriage from the coating tank or bath as the case may be. In like manner the rack will be held stationary while the grippers are being moved through the bath on the return movement causing an excessive rotary movement of the grippers.

The truck l), with the carrier E depending from it, ismoved up the incline A over the part A)", A of the stationary rails A A and onto the switch rails F again after the coating process, and is carried on a level to the cuts a at the end of the carriage movement when the carrier drops and the fingers are opened to release the covered centers onto a tray suitably placed to receive them. These cuts are in all respects like the corresponding cuts a at the other end of the machine and are provided with similar blocks a, springs a and inclines a, reversed in direction, however, in order to operate on the return movement of the truck D. To open the fingers I have provided a slide plate L mounted on a bracket Z attached to the side frames to slide horizontally and at a suficient height and with a proper surface to engage the ends of 'all the cam rods H. The shaft B carries one member of a clutch the other member of which is carried by a shaft B supported on the frame. On the shaft B is .a cam B adapted to engage and move this slide at the proper time against the ends of the cam rods to push them laterally so that they willdeprss the plungers as before and cause the fingers to release the coated pieces dropping them upon a tray and holding the fingers open until the center-grippers have passed above the coated pieces. The slide plate L is held against the cam B by the spring 1. The clutch member on the end of B is brought into engagement with the clutch member on shaft B by the cam B and shaft B This cam, by means of a cam rod B which carries a shipper fork B, engaging said clutch member on shaft B causes said clutch member to slide along the shaft B into or out of engagement with the other clutch member as occasion may require. This mechanism will be recognized as a well-v known mechanical expedient and therefore need not be further described. The carriage having deposited its load immediately starts back up the incline a and down the inclines A so that the center-grippers are washed in the bath, being rotated as before by the rack E this time engaging the stops E the cover being moved in advance of the carriage onto the top of the coating tank. The carriage then moves up the inclines A over the stationary rails at A A and onto the switch rails F which are held in horizontal post tion, and onto the stationary rails iii, A and along A until it reaches the cut a into which it drops and the entire operation is repeated.

In addition to the coating process, my machine provides means for finishing the coatingby applying thereto a small jet of the coating substance leaving an irregular line on the top of each piece like that resulting from hand work. For this purpose ll provide a pump of a size corresponding to the size of the carrier E. This pump consists of a casing M having a perforated bottom, the casing being mounted by suitable means between the side frames of the machine. Within the casing is a plunger M having a suitable plunger rod M connected with a lever M supported on a standard M and connected by means of an eccentric rod M operated by an eccentric lid on the shaft B. A suitable stuffing box M is provided for the plunger rod M in the top or cover of the casing. The bottom M of the casing is perforated with a number of holes corresponding to the number of center-grippers in the carrier E. These holes are connected to anequal number of similarly placed holes by pieces of flexible tubing m, in a plate m so placed that when the carriage has pulled the tray of coated pieces under it, each hole will be over one of the coated pieces on the tray; This plate m has a slide m at each end each of which slides in bars m set in corresponding openings in the side frames. In addition there is a slide m in each slotted extension m and through a slotat in each slide m passes a pin m m the ends of which pins are confined in the bearings. The plate m is capable therefore of an irregular movement, being not only-movable directly across the machine but also lengthwise of the machine, this movement being restrained somewhat, however, by the pins m", m and the slides m. The pin m is longer than the in m passing not only through the cut-o m but also up through a slot in the cam rod m and servingas a pivot for the bar m". This plate m is-reciprocated by means of a peripheral cam m on the shaft B and a cam rod m which is slotted as at on, so as not to interfere with the tubes m, passes over, and is attached to, a post at mounted in the middle of the plate W. In addition, an oscillating bar m slotted as at m loosely engages the post m", being pivotally connected to the plate m by the pin m, its outer end being operated by face cams m Springs m hold the plate in normal position against the cam in. As the cam m revolves therefore the plate m has a reciprocating movement given it by the peripheral surface of the cam m and an irregular lateral move- I ment given it by the face cams m 'so that when the coating substance is being forced through the tubes m it is fed upon the coated centers below. m are springs which resist the action of the face cams m. m is a cut off plate which also slides in one side of said frame and in ways on the under side of said plate m It is perforated and is given a movement by means of a cam m. on the shaftB so that at the proper time it will cut off the flow of coating substance through the tubes m and plate m It is provided with openings adapted to register at proper times with the perforations in the plate m m is a springattached at one end to a bracket m and at theother end to the cut off to hold the end of thecut oif against the cam.

In order to supply material to the casing beneath the plunger I prefer to provide a tube J which connects the chamber beneath the plunger with the coating tank J. but this may be supplied from any other convenient source. It will be seen that upon the up stroke of the plunger M (the cut off being closed) the chamber M beneath it will be filled with the coating substance through the pipe I and upon its down stroke the coating substance will be forc'edout through the tubes m. As the plate m in which the ends of these tubes are fastened is given an irregular movement it will be seen that the jet from these tubes will furnish an irregular finish to the drops below them. It is of course apparent that the pipe J should be provided with a check valve so that on the down stroke of the pump, if the passages through the out off from the tubes m are open, the coating material will be forced out through them, whereas if the cut off is closed the coating material will be forced back again into the coating tank.

I have described above the various instrumentalities which are shown in the drawings as an embodiment of my invention so far as it relates to the coating and marking mechanism. There remains to be. described the mechanism whereby the centers are fed to the center-grippers and after the coating process is finished the product is automatically removed.

As shown the feeding mechanism is operated by the carriage as follows: N, N are trays each of which is provided with recesses 11. in number equal to the number of centergrippers in. the carriage and registering therewith when the trays are in delivery position. As shown these trays are arranged in two stacks, one the stack comprising the filled trays N and the other the stack comprising the empty trays N Each stack of trays is arranged in vertical runways N N, by which they are guided in their vertical movements and they are supported in the following manner :-Upon the side bars A is a platform N which carries eight rectangular uprights N N of proper size to receive the trays and center them. N,

and the upper tray bears against stops 11.

which limitthe upward -movement of the tray, the trays having walls N the upper edges of which in the top' trays engage the stops n and in the lower trays serve to support the next'up er tray in the pile as thecase may be. T e'stack N comprises the empty trays, except that the top tray of the stack is filled (see Fig. 6), having been previously moved over from stack N and placed under the carriage E. The removal' of the top tray of stack Nallows the weight n to lift the stack N so that what was its second tray from the to now becomes the first tra prises the sliding .of the to tray of 4 the stack N onto stack N after w ich the other trays in stack N are lifted the thickness of one tray so as to present a fresh filled tray at thetop ofthe stack and the empty trays in stack N are previously correspondingly depressed to make room for the full one from stack N. The stack N is held up against its stops n by a notched plate n, stirrups n and cords n running over pulleys n and weighted by weights n exactly like stack N.

The necessary movements are given to the trays in the following manner by means The tray-fee ing operation com of which are mounted in bearings P sup ported on the side rails of the frame. Q are levers also pivoted to the side bars of the frame at g. The rock shaft P carries cams P at each end, on each of which rests one end of the levers Q. The other end of each lever Q is forked and is pivoted by a pin '9 to a block Q adapted to slide vertically and carrying at its lower end a cam lug Q} pivoted to swing in and out from the path of the trays (see Fig. 5.) A forward movement is given to the slide P by means of the latch 79 which is pivoted at p in the loop 3 pivotally attached at p to the slide P see Figs. al and 6) and moving in the covered ways 20. The construction of this type of latch is shown in Fig. 4* This latch lies in the position shown in Fig. 6 engaged by the platform C while the loop p is held down by the covered portion p of the ways, but when the slide P has ad vanced so far that the loop 39 has moved from under the cover 39 the continued en'- gagement of the latch 32 with the moving platform causes the loop p to turn up about its pivot so that the platform C rides away from under it. A stop p depending from the slide P in rear of the platform is engaged by the platform on its return movement to return the slide P and the parts operated thereby to their original position. Connected with the platform 6 to move with it are rearwardly-extending arms R- running during the operative portion of its travel in a covered way, the same as P, each having near its end similar latches r, the level of these arms and latches being such that the latches will engage the top tray of the stack N at the proper moment and slide it onto the top of the staclrN and then release it, the cover of the ways extending to the point where the latches should release the tray. As the platform 0 moves forward it carries the slide P which in turn moves the rocker arm P and turns the rock shaft P and cams P through an arc of say thus depressing the block Q by means of the lever Q; and with it the cam lug Q which de-' presses the top tray of the stack N from which the centers have just been removed the entire stack yielding as it is only held up by the weighted cords and stirrups. The parts are so proportioned that when the empty top tray of stack N has been sutficiently depressed, the full top tray of stack N is engaged by the latches r and is drawn by the still moving arms R onto the top of stack N above the cam surface of cam lugs (.3 the other trays in stack N being lifted by the weighted cords as soon as the top one has been removed. By the time the slide P has ceased its movement and become disengaged fromthe platform O the top tray of stack N has been placed on stack N and on its return movement the platform C re places the slide P, thus releasing the cam lugs Q which are moved upward into their original position, the cam surface causing them to slide around the edges of the tray, the frame being slotted to allow them so to do.

I prefer to provide. a double set of plates,

weighted cords and stirrups for each stack in order that no stoppage of the machine will be necessary when new filled trays are to be added or empty trays are removed. These lifting elements are shown in the drawing lettered, the stirrups, n cords, 71. pulleys, and weights a. 'When the filled trays are nearly exhausted a number of filled trays are placed on the cleats N a plate put under them and the stirrups a adjusted in place. The weights n then lift these new trays into place under those above them after which the stirrups n are disengaged from plate 11. and the plate'with drawn so that the stack is now held up by the weights n 5. lLater when necessary, new trays are placed on the cleats and the weights a used to move them and hold them in place as before. By a similar use of the stirrups n cords n pulleys n and weights n the superfluous trays from stack N may be removed. When the carriage has reached the other end of the machine carrying with it the covered centers the product is dropped upon a tray and is finished as above described. The trays at this end are lifted in a way similar to the way in which the trays are lifted at the other end. In this case, however, only a single stack S of trays are needed as the filled trays carrying the finished product are moved horizontally away from the machine as will now be described, to be cooled and packed. The stack S is supported, centered and lifted in the same way as the stack N and therefore this mechanism need not be described e1iv stack S. The platform C has two forwardly-extending arms T each of which has a latch 23 both of the same character as that above described, and shown in detail in Fig. 4". These arms run in the grooves A in which the platform (3 runs, which grooves are provided with covers T at the rear of the machine to hold the latches in operative engagement with the slides T. T are slides one in each side of the machine and moving in ways T each carrying an arm which has a spring hook t at its further end adapted to engage the top tray S in the stack S. T are also slides mounted to slide lengthwise of the machine on a higher level than slides T and within reach of the latches on the arms T. Each slide T is connected with the slide T .on the same side of the machine by means of a cord Z running over a pulley T at the rear of the machine. A weight T is also connected to each slide T by a cord running over a pulley '1 so that the slides T are held normally in a forwardv position and at its next rearward position the hooks t will engage the top tray S of the stack S and push it from the top of the stack onto the frame under the pump, at the same time pushing the previously moved trays S out of the way.

The operation of this part of my invention is as follows: As the carriage reaches its rearward position over the stack S and discharges the dipped centers on the top tray S", the latches t pass over the slides T engaging therewith so that upon the return movement of the carriage the slides T will be moved by it. By this movement of the slides T the hooks t willbe moved rearward engaging the top tray and pulling it under the pump. When the tray has reached that position each latch 23 will release its slide T owing to a ga at that point in the cover T of the way X and the weights T will pull the slides back to their original position, suitable stops being provided to limit their movement.

The general operation of the machine will be sufliciently understood from what has been said above without further explanationand other applications of the various elements described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The centers may be jarred or otherwise treated after being coated, if thought best,

to shake 'ofl any superfluous coating. Devices for this purpose are well known and therefore are not shown or described in this specification, as their use is not always necessary. Moreover, in some cases the cleansing tank will not be found necessary and may beomitted and the pum mechanism is only necessary when it is esired to give the finish referred to to the coated product.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A coating machine comprising a carriage having indivdual center grippers, means for presenting centers to said grippers, means for causing said grippers to grip said centers, means for giving said carriage a vertical movement toward and from said center-presenting means, a tank, and means for moving said carriage horizontally to said tank and means for giving said carriage a vertical movement to dip said centers in the contents of said tank. 2. A coating machine comprising a carriage having individual center-grippers, means for presenting centers to said grlppers, means for causing said grippers to grip said centers, means for giving said carriage a vertical movement toward and from said center-presenting means, a tank, and means for moving said carriage horizontally to said tank, means for giving said carriage a vertical movement to lower said centers into said tank and withdraw them therefrom, and means for causing said grippers to release said centers.

3. A coating machine comprising a carriage having individual ,center grippers, means for presenting centers to said grippers, means for causing said grippers to grip said centers, means for giving said carriage a vertical movement toward and from said center-presentin and means for moving said carriage horizontally to said tank, means for giving said carriage a vertical movement to lower said centers into said tank, means for turning said centers while in said tank and for withdrawing them therefrom, and means for causing said grippers to release said centers.

4. A coating machine comprising a carriage having individual center grippers, means for presenting centers to said grippers, means for causing said grippers to grip said centers, means for giving said carriage a vertical movement toward and from said center-presenting means, a tank, and ;means for moving said carriage thereto, and imeans for dipping said centers in said tank. a 5. A coating machine comprising a carriage having individual center-grippers,

means, a tank,

means for presenting centers to said grippers, means for causing said grippers to grip the centers, a tank, means for moving said carriage thereto, means for causing said grippers to dip 'the centers therein, means for. causing said fgrippers to release the centers, and means or applying a finish to the coated centers operable after they have been released.

6. In a coating machine, a series of indi- A vidual center-grlppers each adapted to'grip and release a center, a tank, means for conveying said center grippers over said tank, means for causing said grippers to dip said centers therein and means for conveying said grippers from said tank over a receiver for said centers, and means for releasmg said centers.

7. In a coating machine, a series of individual center-grippers each adapted to grip and release a center, a center presenting means, means for causing each gripper to grip and release a center,'a tank, means for 

